Hampton heavyweights: Social D. ready to rip it up at the Casino

Wednesday

Jun 12, 2013 at 2:00 AMJun 12, 2013 at 3:26 PM

Local (punk-influenced) rocker Tim McCoy once made comment that catching Orange County, California's Social Distortion at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom was like going to summer camp. It's a summertime tradition he's kept up every time the band has rolled back onto the strip and into the Casino for another epic gig.

Christopher Hislop

Local (punk-influenced) rocker Tim McCoy once made comment that catching Orange County, California's Social Distortion at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom was like going to summer camp. It's a summertime tradition he's kept up every time the band has rolled back onto the strip and into the Casino for another epic gig.

Social Distortion was founded in 1976 by frontman Mike Ness — who was actually born in Lynn, Mass., (so he has local-ish roots — before moving to California shortly after birth). Ness made claim that the Casino has long been one of his favorite spots to play:

"I'm always stoked to come back to the Casino," said Ness in a recent interview. "It's a legendary venue with quite the history."

But one might be surprised to learn of what Ness claims is his reason for coming back.

"I gotta be honest...; I don't know all the bands that have played there. I couldn't tell you. But I do know that Mickey Ward fought there, and that holds a lot of weight. That keeps me coming back."

Ward, the Lowell, Mass., boxer who was the subject of the 2010 Hollywood blockbuster, "The Fighter," took part in what Ring Magazine called the "fight of the year," on July 13, 2001 at the Casino Ballroom in a bout with Emanuel (Burton) Augustus.

Recalling the fight as one of his top-ten most memorable moments in the ring, Ward told ESPN, "I just stood right in his chest. I just tried to smother him and wear him down. The crowd was just crazy, and it was nuts in there. And it was so hot. There was no way to see in that building. It was that hot."

"I have an affinity for that dude," said Ness. "He's tough as nails. And so is Social Distortion. I can't wait to come back to the beach. The other reason I like to come back? There's always a great crowd. The fans that show up to the Casino never let us down. After 30 something years in this band, that's what it's all about. It's about fun...; And we're still having it thanks to places like Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom."

Get ready to go 10 rounds with one the legendary So-Cal "cow-punk" rockers. Social D. is bound to raise the temperature in the Casino when they return on Saturday, June 15. Hot? Yes, it will be. Awesome? Yes. It will be.

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